Clothes line

ABSTRACT

A clothesline adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothesline pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers so as to carry them in spaced relation, comprises a narrow strip of flexible non-metallic material having spaced holes penetrating the strip, of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers. The strip has an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a clothesline pulley. The holes may be lined with metal or plastic firmely attached to the body of the strip.

United States Patent 1191 Decorato Aug. 7, 1973 1 1 CLOTHES LINE [76] Inventor: Frank Decorato, 32 I-Iillcrest Rd.,

Warren, NJ. 07060 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 168,160

[52] 11.8. C1. 21l/ll9.02 [51 Int. Cl. D061 53/00 [58] Field of Search 211/119.02, 119.12,

2ll/ll9.l, 119.13, 119.14, 119.03, 119.01, 89; 24/73 A, 129 D, 122.6, 141; 182/196-198; 57/139; 87/8 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 693,401 2/1902 Johnson 2ll/ll9.13 2,206,559 7/1940 Dodge 24/141 X 2,318,375 5/1943 Copeman.. 2l1/119.13 2,676,711 4/1954 Jardim 21 1/119.02 2,127,019 3/1964 Von Meyer... 211/1l9.13 3,184,204 5/1965 Dachinger 21 Ill 19.12 X

3,193,235 7/1965 Jensen 211/119.12 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 600 2/1881 Great Britain 57/139 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Peter J. Gaylor [57] ABSTRACT A clothesline adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothesline pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers so as to carry them in spaced relation, comprises a narrow strip of flexible non-metallic material having spaced holes penetrating the strip, of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers. The strip has an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a clothesline pulley. The holes 'may be lined with metal or plastic firmely attached to the body of the strip.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUAHB 1w 3.750.891

INVENTOR. F FP/W K DECORA TO 44 T TOR/VEV CLOTHES LINE BACKGRUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a clothesline adapted to carry clothes hangers and also designed to be reeved around clothesline pulleys of the conventional type after the hangers have been removed. Ordinary clotheslines can carry clothes hangers when the hanger hooks are engaged over them. Unfortunately, the hangers all bunch into the middle or low part of the line and thus make it difficult to move them or to effect proper airing or drying of clothes mounted thereon.

Numerous patents have been issued on metal wire clotheslines. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 693,401 deals with a twisted wire line wherein intermittent open loops are provided between the wires, through which hanger hooks might be inserted. However, beside the problem and cost of the metal wire used, an important disadvantage is that a very heavy and expensively-hardened wire must be used in order to prevent the flattening out of the loops due to the weight of the wire line and its load, thus eventually preventing the insertion of the hanger hooks. Another disadvantage is that, due to the aforesaid requirements, the wire combination is too stiff to be reeved and drawn around conventional clothesline pulleys.

Other patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 559,925, 839,402, 1,052,819 and 1,211,312, have projections which would interfere with pulley mountings and would also possess other obvious disadvantages against their use for such purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION According to the present invention, a clothesline, which may also be used for hanging clothes hangers, includes a narrow strip of flexible non-metallic material having spaced holes penetrating the strip. Such a line does not corrode or discolor the clothes hung thereon. Also, it readily accommodates the hanging of clothes hangers thereon in spaced relation, thus preventing the bunching up of the hangers at the lowest portion of the line. Although it is designed to take hangers, it is still capable of being reeved around a conventional clothesline pulley without any snagging difficulties. Other advantages include its low cost, ease of manufacture, and ability to be used in the vertical position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment is described, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a side-elevational view of one pulley end carrying one embodiment of a clothesline of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the line taken along the plane of line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a similar enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and S'present side views of other embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a similar view of a different embodiment when used in a vertical position.

The same numerals refer to similar parts in the various FIGS.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, and first particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, numeral 10 represents generally a conventional clothesline pulley attached by hook I] to a loop 12 projecting from a window frame I3 of a building, for example. Another similar pulley (not shown) is usually mounted on a post or similar location on the owners property.

A round woven non-metallic flexible rope clothesline is provided with drilled holes 15 of size large enough to accommodate the hook 16 of a clothes hanger l7,

and it is reeved around the pulleys for the purpose of supporting the hangers on which clothes are hung to air out or dry. After drilling, hole 15 may be lined with a quick-drying cement to prevent or to minimize fraying of the cut fibers. Instead of a round rope 14, it is possible to employ a flexible solid plastic line 14' having an oval shape, and having intermittently-spaced holes 15' inwhich is fastened a hollow eyelet or grommet 18, the opening in which is of size adequate to accommodate a hanger hook 16.

Another embodiment of the clothesline of the present invention is a woven or solid flexible flat strip 19, which may be made of plastic or natural or synthetic fibers either in single ply or in laminated form. Holes 15 penetrate such a strip, and such holes may be lined with narrow plastic sleeves 20 cemented to the walls of the openings. The inner openings of said sleeves, of course, must be large enough to accommodate the hanger books 16.

In FIG. 5 is shown a strip line or tape 21 having ovalshaped holes 15" for accommodating the hanger hooks 16. The width of the strip is widened at the hole locations '22 to provide reinforcement and additional strength to support the weight of the clothes hung on hangers 17.

It is to be understood that the overall width or diameter of the line in all of the examples given must be of dimensions small enough to pass through the pulleys 10 without interference with the pulley mounting supports 23.

In FIG. 6, another line in flexible tube form 24 is depicted. As in the previous examples, holes 15 may be punched through the tube walls (indicated generally as 15) and eyelets or grommets 18 may be crimped thereon for accommodating hangers 17. A length of line 24 may be used vertically, for example. In such case, a nail or hook in a door, for example, may be used as the suspending means by insertion of upper hole 18' over said nail or hook. Then, hangers may be inserted in the lower holes 18'', for example, for vertical storage of clothes on a wall or closet door.

.Holes 15 may be spaced on the line at intervals of,

say, 3, 6, l2,or more inches, as is convenient or desired. The plastic material mentioned may be epoxy, polyethylen, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene sulfide polyester, and the like, either alone, or loaded with fiber glass or similar strengthening material. The eyelets or grommets are desirably made of corrosion-resistant material, such as plastic, aluminum, brass, and the like. The holes may be of circular, oval, swag, or other suitable shape.

The term strip employed herein is intended to in clude an elongated length of natural or synthetic material which may be of round, oval, :swag, flat, tubular, or

similar shape. The term pierced includes drilled and punched. The term overall width includes the widest portion of the strip, such as the portion 22 in FIG. 5. The hooks of metal clothes hangers generally have a diameter of 3/32 inch or more.

I claim:

1. A clothes line adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers for carrying the same in spaced relation, comprising:

a rope having predetermined width of non-metallic substantially inelastic, flexible material having a solid continuous cross section having spaced holes penetrating said rope, the diameter of said holes being less than the width of said rope, of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers, said rope having an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley.

2. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the holes are lined with metal or plastic firmly attached to the body of said rope.

3. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the rope has a round cross section.

4. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the rope is substantially in the form of a strip.

5. A clothes line combination, comprising:

a pair of clothes line pulleys, and

a clothes line of claim 1, reeved and drawn around said pulleys.

6. A clothes line combination, according to claim 5, wherein clothes hangers are inserted in the holes of said strip.

7. A clothes line adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers for carrying the same in spaced relation, comprising:

a rope having a predetermined width of nonmetallic,

substantially inelastic flexible woven material having spaced holes penetrating said rope, said holes having a diameter less than the width of said rope, and being of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers, said rope having an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley.

8. A clothes line combination, comprising:

a pair of clothes line pulleys, and

a clothes line of claim 7, reeved and drawn around said pulleys.

9. A clothes line combination, according to claim 8, wherein clothes hangers are inserted in the hole of said strip. 

1. A clothes line adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of cloThes hangers for carrying the same in spaced relation, comprising: a rope having predetermined width of non-metallic substantially inelastic, flexible material having a solid continuous cross section having spaced holes penetrating said rope, the diameter of said holes being less than the width of said rope, of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers, said rope having an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley.
 2. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the holes are lined with metal or plastic firmly attached to the body of said rope.
 3. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the rope has a round cross section.
 4. A clothes line according to claim 1 wherein the rope is substantially in the form of a strip.
 5. A clothes line combination, comprising: a pair of clothes line pulleys, and a clothes line of claim 1, reeved and drawn around said pulleys.
 6. A clothes line combination, according to claim 5, wherein clothes hangers are inserted in the holes of said strip.
 7. A clothes line adapted to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley and designed to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers for carrying the same in spaced relation, comprising: a rope having a predetermined width of nonmetallic, substantially inelastic flexible woven material having spaced holes penetrating said rope, said holes having a diameter less than the width of said rope, and being of size adequate to accommodate the hooks of clothes hangers, said rope having an overall width small enough to enable it to be reeved and drawn around a conventional clothes line pulley.
 8. A clothes line combination, comprising: a pair of clothes line pulleys, and a clothes line of claim 7, reeved and drawn around said pulleys.
 9. A clothes line combination, according to claim 8, wherein clothes hangers are inserted in the hole of said strip. 